Coral reef ecology, mesophotic coral ecosystems, molecular ecology

Ph.D. Student in Integrative Biology

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL

2019 - expected 2024

Advisor: Dr. Joshua Voss

M.Sc. in Biological Sciences

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL

2017 - 2019

Thesis: Population genetics and algal symbiont communities of the coral species Montastraea cavernosa on the Belize Barrier Reef
Advisor: Dr. Joshua Voss

B.Sc. in Biological Sciences

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL

2005 - 2009

Thesis: Associational resistance and susceptibility in Solanum carolinense

Graduate Research Assistant

FAU, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

Ft. Pierce, FL

2017 - present

Voss Laboratory

Research Specialist

NOAA’s Flower Garden Banks NMS

Galveston, TX

2009 - 2017

Science Division

Research Assistant

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL

2007 - 2009

Underwood Laboratory

Emily Chei

Link fellowship intern
Assessing population connectivity of the coral Montastraea cavernosa along the northern Florida Reef Tract

N/A

2018

Currently a student at Cornell University

Ashley Reaume

Link fellowship intern
Optimized extraction and amplification of algal symbiont DNA from TRIzol preserved corals

N/A

2017

Currently a graduate student at University of Central Florida

8. Populations of the coral species Montastraea cavernosa on the Belize Barrier Reef lack vertical connectivity

Sci Rep (2019). doi:10.1038/s41598-019-43479-x

N/A

2019

Eckert RJ, Studivan MS, Voss JD

7. The Mesoamerican Reef

In: Loya Y., Puglise K.A., Bridge T.C.L. (eds) Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems of the World. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 71–84. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-92735-0_5

N/A

2019

Gress E, Voss JD, Eckert RJ, Rowlands G, Andradi-Brown DA

6. Coral bleaching and recovery from 2016 to 2017 at East and West Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico

Coral Reefs (2019). doi:10.1007/s00338-019-01788-7

N/A

2019

Johnston MA, Hickerson EL, Nuttall MF, Blakeway RD, Sterne TK, Eckert RJ, Schmahl GP

5. Localized coral reef mortality event at East Flower Garden Bank, Gulf of Mexico

Bull Mar Sci (2019). doi:10.5343/bms.2018.0057

N/A

2019

Johnston MA, Nuttall MF, Eckert RJ, Blakeway RD, Sterne TK, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP, Lee MT, MacMillan J, Embesi JA

4. Seasonal variability of carbonate chemistry and decadal changes in waters of a marine sanctuary in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

Mar Chem (2018). doi:10.1016/j.marchem.2018.07.006

N/A

2018

Hu X, Nuttall MF, Wang H, Yao H, Staryk CJ, McCutcheon MR, Eckert RJ, Embesi JA, Johnston MA, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP, Manzello D, Enochs IC, DiMarco S, Barbero L

3. Persistence of coral assemblages at East and West Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico

Coral Reefs (2016). doi:10.1007/s00338-016-1452-x

N/A

2016

Johnston MA, Embesi JA, Eckert RJ, Nuttall MF, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP

2. Rapid invasion of Indo-Pacific lionfishes Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) and P. miles (Bennett, 1828) in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, Gulf of Mexico, documented in multiple data sets

BioInvasions Rec (2016). doi:10.3391/bir.2016.5.2.09

N/A

2016

Johnston MA, Nuttall MF, Eckert RJ, Embesi JA, Sterne TK, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP

1. Lionfish (Pterois volitans [Linnaeus, 1758] and P. miles [Bennett, 1828]) records within mesophotic depth ranges on natural banks in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

BioInvasions Rec (2014). doi:10.3391/bir.2014.3.2.09

N/A

2014

Nuttall MF, Johnston MA, Eckert RJ, Embesi JA, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP

Population structure of the scleractinian coral, Montastraea cavernosa, in the Northern Florida Reef Tract

Bull Mar Sci (in revision).

N/A

N/A

Dodge DL, Chei E, Beal J, Eckert RJ, Voss JD

Symbiodiniaceae community variation among Montastraea cavernosa populations along a depth gradient on the Belize Barrier Reef

Front Microbiol (in prep).

N/A

N/A

Eckert RJ, Reaume A, Sturm AB, Studivan MS, Voss JD

Genetically distinct depth-stratified Montastraea cavernosa coral populations on the Belize Barrier Reef harbor relatively homogenous Symbiodiniaceae communities

48th Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting

St. John’s, NL, Canada

2019

Eckert RJ, Reaume A, Voss JD
Oral presentation

Populations of the coral species Montastraea cavernosa lack vertical connectivity on the Belize Barrier Reef

ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting

San Juan, PR.

2019

Eckert RJ, Studivan MS, Voss JD
Poster presentation

Affordable and ecologically relevant graduate research on the world’s second largest barrier reef? You better Belize it!

HBOI Science Seminar

Ft. Pierce, FL.

2018

Eckert RJ and Studivan MS
Oral presentation

Connected corals: population genetics of Montastraea cavernosa on the Belize Barrier Reef

HBOI Ocean Discovery Visitors Center Marine Science Fridays

Ft. Pierce, FL.

2018

Eckert RJ
Oral presentation

Breaking point: population genetics reveal a lack of vertical connectivity of Montastraea cavernosa on the Belize Barrier Reef

47th Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting

Corpus Christi, TX.

2018

Eckert RJ, Studivan MS, Voss JD
Oral presentation

Ciguatera fish poisoning in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.

66th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Conference

Corpus Christi, TX

2013

Eckert RJ, Loeffler C, Robertson A, Johnston MA, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP
Poster presentation

Associational resistance and susceptibility in Solanum carolinense

Southeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference

Gainesville, FL.

2009

Eckert RJ, Kim T, Underwood N
Poster presentation

Florida Atlantic University Presidential Fellow

N/A

N/A

2019 - 2021

Florida State University Dean’s List

N/A

N/A

2006 - 2009

Florida State University President’s List

N/A

N/A

2005

AAUS Scientific Diver

190’, Trimix

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TDI Technical SCUBA Diver

Advanced Nitrox, Decompression Procedures, Trimix 200’

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PADI Trimix Gas Blender

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N/A

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DAN Oxygen delivery, First Aid, and CPR for scuba diving injuries

N/A

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USCG Licensed Merchant Mariner

100 GRT

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USFWS Motorboat Operator Certification Course

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Sea-Bird Electronics technician

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NOAA Working SCUBA Diver

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Offshore field research cruise planning, logistics, and execution

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Coral sampling, benthic surveys, fish surveys, photography, navigation and mapping

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DNA and RNA extraction, PCR, qPCR, Gel electrophoresis, NGS library preparation

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Data visualization, CPCe, Primer7, Python, Bash, and R statistical software

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Bioinformatic and multivariate statistical analyses

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Technical SCUBA diving

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Operation, navigation, and handling of small boats

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Marlinspike, and mooring buoy construction/installation/maintenance

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Setup, operation, and maintenance of oceanographic equipment (Sea-Bird Electronics)

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Operation of Nitrox compressor systems and Trimix blending

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Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop

N/A

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Dr. Joshua Voss

Ph.D. Advisor

Florida Atlantic University

N/A

Dr. Adrienne Simoes-Correa

Assistant Professor

Rice University

N/A

G.P. Schmahl

Superintendent

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

N/A